An actual on/off switch for plant growth?

Arabidopsis root tip cells stained with a red dye. Image on the right shows increased cell division when IRK is inhibited. (Jaimie Van Norman/UCR)

Article Highlights

New research from UC Riverside identifies a protein that controls plant growth — good news for an era in which crops can get crushed by climate change
The research demonstrates that turning off the gene producing IRK causes an increase in the number of times the plant’s root cells divide. Additional cells can lead to bigger roots, and perhaps to plants that are better at taking up nutrients from the soil and grow larger
There may be some instances in which farmers also want to limit plant growth. For example, keeping weeds small, or trying to pause crop growth until a severe storm passes. IRK can be instrumental for achieving both goals
“This discovery gives us another way to control growth,” Van Norman said. “Understanding how the plant itself stops growth can also allow us to accelerate growth.”
This research is notable not only for its potential impact on crop and food security, but also because roots have historically been less well studied than the above-ground parts of plants
Roots are critical for plant survival and for the production of above-ground plant organs such as leaves flowers and fruits. Therefore, understanding their function and development is critical in efforts to improve crop productivity
“It may be the case that by understanding what happens when the IRK-producing gene is turned off, we can make root growth less sensitive to soil conditions that pose a threat to food security,” Van Norman said.

Cultivating plant growth in space
on January 11, 2021 at 12:02 pm
When in space, astronauts typically eat dehydrated, nutrient-dense food, but when it comes to longer space missions, that can become a problem as they'll eventually lack nutrients from fresh ...
Jack Frost nipping at our plants
on January 9, 2021 at 1:13 pm
Any black or brown wood should be removed. Do not fertilize your cold damaged plants. New growth is more susceptible to cold damage. You do not want to unintentionally encourage new plant growth ...
Sustainability Rules: Why FERC 2222 Could Pave The Way For Virtual Power Plant Growth
on January 6, 2021 at 4:01 pm
As the general manager and vice president of a company that offers a virtual power plant (VPP) solution, I expect FERC 2222 to increase demand for VPP solutions to manage the barrage of new ...
How plants adapt their root growth to changes of nutrients
on January 5, 2021 at 7:21 am
Its availability in the soil plays a major role in plant growth and development, thereby affecting agricultural productivity. Scientists were now able to show, how plants adjust their root growth ...
A plant's way to its favorite food
on January 5, 2021 at 4:44 am
Its availability in the soil plays a major role in plant growth and development, thereby affecting agricultural productivity. Scientists at the IST Austria were now able to show, how plants adjust ...

Fertigation matches nutrient application with plant needs
on January 23, 2021 at 2:40 pm
Fertigation provides the ability to alter nutrient application timing to more accurately match the crop nutrient uptake needs.
It’s hard to control Texas leaf cutting ants, which strip plants in pieces
on January 22, 2021 at 4:55 am
Neil Sperry also discusses what to plant in a shady yard, what might be killing boxwoods and more in his Down to Earth column.
With Democrats in Control, Investors Are High on Cannabis
on January 22, 2021 at 4:13 am
Weed businesses are counting on the political shift to help them win access to financial markets and perhaps even national legalization of pot.
MIT scientists want to grow wood and fiber plant tissues in a lab
on January 21, 2021 at 3:01 am
A group of researchers from MIT has proposed a way to grow certain plant tissues, including wood and fiber, in a lab. Their idea is in the early stages and is likened to cultured meat. Researchers ...
Khat (Plant) Market is in huge demand | Uganda, Yemen, Somalia
on January 21, 2021 at 1:58 am
The Khat Plant market research report added by Report Ocean is an in depth analysis of the latest developments market size status upcoming technologies industry drivers challenges regulatory policies ...